Tata Merlin - Safari replacement? *UPDATE* Uncovered Pics on Pg 90

This is a discussion on Tata Merlin - Safari replacement? *UPDATE* Uncovered Pics on Pg 90 within The Indian Car Scene, part of the BHP India category; The front looks a lot more contemporary than the present gen while still maintaining that classy look. TML have made ...

The front looks a lot more contemporary than the present gen while still maintaining that classy look. TML have made sure that a dominant front look doesnt necessarily mean it should look ugly and vulgar, but it could have done with less chrome.

Hopefully they have answered the main queries:

Niggle free ownership

Better interiors

Traditional Tata VFM pricing

Everyone's waiting with bated breath (evident from the 80+ pages of this thread), hoping TML hits the nail on the head this time.

They could have made an offroad version with 4x4,plastic side cladding sans the chrome,raised suspension with offroad tyres and a spare tyre on the tailgate, voila ,an offroad version of Safari. The Safari Storm.
For the other versions,just Safari.

Haven't Tata recently announced a price hike for the Safari? I remember that the move was widely panned since we expected a cut after the price of the XUV.

If the new Safari is launched at the Auto-expo 2012, then Tata may take the opportunity to announce the "new" pricing at par with the old pricing of the Safari and say it is cheaper than the outgoing model. Else what is the point of offering discounts immediately after announcing an increase in the prices?

From the proto pics earlier on the thread, I was undecided about the Merlin. I like the look in the Final pics, but this may be colour dependent. Is it finally confirmed whether or not the new Safari is built on the Aria chassis?

Pic in an email I received from a friend telling me this is the final version, no more changes.

Thanks for the picture! The paint quality looks impressive and the chrome grill gels well with this color, I still feel its a bit overdone. I doubt this is the top varient since it doesnt have body colored bumpers.

A few pages back, there was a discussion about how the Merlin will co-exist with the current Safari. As per some, Merlin would only replace the higher variants(GX, VX) and the current avatar will continue to sell as lower variants(LX, EX). However, the pic posted by kaks15 seems to be of the base variant(??).

Here's some pics of the Safar running tests that I had caught on the Pune Highway. Putting them up now, cos the thread was locked earlier

Nikhil, thanks for those pics. The thread was locked because there was nothing of substance coming up. But you had some good stuff there. So next time, in such a situation, pls ping the mod's and they will help you post the pics.

Lastest spy shots during the ad shoot. Also posting a pic from AI, of an interior shot because it hasnt been posted on this thread yet.
I just hope the new advertisements are good. I still remember the old safari ads, what fun! Still love seeing them on youtube specially Reclaim your life & Lines.